左 — Kanji Reference
左 (left): 5 strokes, JLPT N5. On: サ. Kun: ひだり.
左
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Meaning | left |
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| On-reading (音読み) | サ |
| Kun-reading (訓読み) | ひだり |
| Radical | 工 (たくみ/こう) [U+5DE5] |
Stroke Order
The stroke order for 左 follows the rule of writing horizontal strokes before vertical/diagonal ones, and top-to-bottom.
- Stroke 1: A short horizontal stroke starting from the top left.
- Stroke 2: A long, sweeping diagonal stroke starting from the top center, moving down to the left.
- Stroke 3: A horizontal stroke forming the top of the "工" shape.
- Stroke 4: A vertical stroke connecting the center of the horizontal strokes.
- Stroke 5: A horizontal base stroke at the bottom.
Radical Analysis
The main radical is 工 (たくみ/こう), which represents a carpenter's square or a tool. In the kanji 左, the top component (the "撇" or "slash" and "horizontal") is said to represent a hand (ナ). Historically, the kanji depicts a hand working with a tool, which evolved to specifically mean "left."
Note: Compare this to 右 (right), where the top component is 口 (mouth), representing a hand bringing food to the mouth.
Mnemonic
The Left-Handed Carpenter: Imagine a carpenter (工) using his left hand to hold a tool. The top two strokes look like a hand reaching out to the left. If you are "left-handed," you use your 左 (ひだり) hand to hold the 工 (tool).
On-readings (音読み) with Examples
サ (Sa)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 左派 | さは | saha | left-wing (political) |
| 左右 | さゆう | sayuu | left and right / influence |
| 左遷 | させん | sasen | demotion |
| 左折 | させつ | sasetsu | left turn |
Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples
ひだり (Hidari)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 左 | ひだり | hidari | left |
| 左側 | ひだりがわ | hidarigawa | left side |
| 左利き | ひだりきき | hidarikiki | left-handed |
JLPT N5 Words Using 左
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 左 | ひだり | hidari | left | N5 |
| 左側 | ひだりがわ | hidarigawa | left side | N5 |
| 左折 | させつ | sasetsu | left turn | N4 |
| 左右 | さゆう | sayuu | left and right | N3 |
| 左手 | ひだりて | hidarite | left hand | N5 |
| 左利き | ひだりきき | hidarikiki | left-handed | N3 |
| 左斜め | ひだりななめ | hidarinaname | diagonally left | N3 |
| 左回り | ひだりまわり | hidarimawari | counter-clockwise | N3 |
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 左に曲がってください。 | ひだりにまがってください。 | Hidari ni magatte kudasai. | Please turn left. |
| 彼は左利きです。 | かれはひだりききです。 | Kare wa hidarikiki desu. | He is left-handed. |
| 左側を歩いてください。 | ひだりがわをあるいてください。 | Hidarigawa o aruite kudasai. | Please walk on the left side. |
| 左右を確認します。 | さゆうをかくにんします。 | Sayuu o kakunin shimasu. | I will check left and right. |
| 左手に時計をしています。 | ひだりてにとけいをしています。 | Hidarite ni tokei o shite imasu. | I am wearing a watch on my left hand. |
| 交差点を左折します。 | こうさてんをさせつします。 | Kousaten o sasetsu shimasu. | I will turn left at the intersection. |
Common Confusion Pairs
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | How to distinguish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 左 | ひだり | left | The top stroke is a slash (撇). |
| 右 | みぎ | right | The top stroke is a mouth (口). |
| 在 | ざい | exist/at | Contains the radical 才 (ability) inside. |
Usage Frequency Note
左 is a high-frequency kanji used daily in navigation, descriptions, and political discourse. It is essential for basic communication (giving directions) and is taught early in the Japanese education system (Grade 1). It is equally common in formal writing and casual speech.